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From http://londonpicaresque.blogspot.com/2005/02/palatine-hill.html (from my friend Katherine's blog, syndicated as [livejournal.com profile] london_kate:

"Way back when, 15 February was celebrated in honor of either Lupercus, Rumina, Inuus or Faunus. Never the sort to let spiritual ambiguities stand in the way of a good streaking festival, the Romans involved two young noblemen being stripped naked on the Palatine Hill, rubbed down with scented oils, and sent running through the streets of Rome with sticks and goatskin lashes, smacking whomever they came across. And if one of their lash-ees happened to be a nubile young lady? It was supposed to INCREASE HER FERTILITY."

Re: Not to be pedantic but....

Date: 2005-02-16 02:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kenjari.livejournal.com
I believe that there is also a similar ritual in parts of Morocco. I think it is still being practiced. I have a CD of The Master Musicians of Jajouka, the music that is played during it, and the insert includes a couple of pictures.

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